Al Habtoor meets Italian envoy to UAE Stellino

DUBAI, UAE, March 10: Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman, Al Habtoor Group held talks with His Excellency Liborio Stellino, the Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates at the Al Habtoor Group Head Office on Al Wasl Road on March 9. The Ambassador was accompanied by Umberto Bernardo, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the Economic and Commercial Section at the Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi. Also present was Maan Halabi, Managing Director, Al Habtoor Group.

HE Stellino, who has been in Foreign Service for 26 years, took up his post in July 2015. He said the Italian government is committed to boosting bilateral ties with the United Arab Emirates, and looking ahead to the Dubai Expo 2020 where it can encourage Italian companies to showcase the best of Italy. Last year Italy played host to Expo 2015 in Milan, under the slogan ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’. Dubai’s World Expo is held under the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

It marked the first meeting between the Al Habtoor Group Chairman and Ambassador Stellino. They discussed the political and economic climate in the UAE, and ways Italian companies can participate in various sectors of the economy from renewable energy and logistics to healthcare, as part of the UAE’s diversification plan. Ambassador Stellino said he would like to encourage more Italian SMEs here. “The UAE is a country that encourages innovation,” he said. “We are committed to building on already strong ties between the UAE and Italy, and I am working on encouraging more Italian businesses here.”

Al Habtoor said he welcomed collaboration with Italian companies. “Dubai, and the UAE, are safe havens of the world. The country’s geographic location and cosmopolitan demographic make it an ideal investment destination. In addition, we have visionary leaders and our people work in parallel with the government for the betterment our country and its economy.” The Chairman gave the Ambassador a copy of his best-selling autobiography, ‘Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor – The Autobiography’.